A PITA Tax is an aggravation surcharge. It’s an extra charge you add to your fees if a client demands an unreasonable turnaround time, keeps changing their mind, or adds more to your plate than you originally agreed. Sounds good, right? But how does it work? How can you “get away with it”? Here are … Read More
Do you find your patience wearing thin with certain clients? You try to be understanding—particularly in the time of COVID. You try to be kind. You want to be of service. But difficult clients …? They deserve to get slapped with a PITA Tax. What’s a PITA Tax … and when it is appropriate for … Read More
For most solo and smallfirm owners earning under $1M, CASH IS KEY. How can you make sure it gets into YOUR bank account as soon as possible? This comes up a lot with my coaching clients in creative services– like graphic designers. People who get really involved in the work (which involves their mental creativity) … Read More
Having cash in hand becomes so much more important when times are challenging. And while I’ve shared a few tips on getting paid in full, solo and small firm owners will also be eager to get paid on time … and not six months from now. In this short video, I discuss three tactics I’ve … Read More
During tough times, it’s a beautiful thing to want to be compassionate. But when it comes to not getting paid and leaving money on the table, that kindness and compassion can be devastating to a small business. Recently, I’ve been talking to clients about having “money conversations” and how to get paid faster. You don’t … Read More
What is it that makes clients feel welcome … and want to go back to you? It involves more than just handing out coffee mugs with your logo on it. It’s about a welcoming experience. (Like the one I had with Gina Le at Gina Le Salon) In this short video, I give #solobiz and … Read More
Who are your A-List clients? When it comes to growing your business beyond yourself, clients are the tip of the spear. Without A-List clients, you don’t have good cash flow. And without cash flow, you don’t have a business. If you’re a solo or small firm, your business systems aren’t set up to handle everybody. … Read More
Do you like your clients? Do they respect the advice they give you? Does it feel like a collaborative relationship when you’re working together? If not, that’s a sign you need to shore up your intake process. (Do you have one?) During challenging times, it’s tempting to take any client that has a pulse and … Read More
An allegory for entrepreneurs: >> A father said to his daughter: You graduated with honors, here is a car that I acquired many years ago … it is several years old. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ But before I give it to you, take it to the used car lot downtown and tell them I want to sell it … Read More
I attended a business roundtable just before Thanksgiving. We were asked: “What’s one of the biggest obstacles you’ve encountered growing your business?” The answer: Spending years targeting the wrong audience. Trying to generate revenue from people who were familiar to us. In our comfort zone. Who couldn’t — and wouldn’t — make us any money. … Read More
Did you ever lose a client when you thought you’d done nothing wrong? Sure, you can understand it if you completely muck up an assignment. But sometimes, it’s the breach of “micro-commitments” that turns a client off. This happened to Chris, who runs a web development firm. Overall, they’re terrific. Solid problem-solvers. Efficient. Current with … Read More
My client, Cate, runs a graphic and web design firm. On a recent consulting call she complained, I feel like an accordion. When clients pour in and I need to ramp up, I’m stretched. When times are thin and I need to pare down, I’m squeezed. And it seems like I never have the right … Read More
